Increasing independent mobility skills for a woman who was severely handicapped and nonambulatory

Abstract

In this study, a woman who was nonambulatory and severely handicapped was taught to get out of her wheelchair and cruise around a table. She was provided with instructional feedback, repeated practice, and appropriate social reinforcement to acquire the cruising skill. Repeated practice was provided when she was unable to perform the behavior independently. Data were collected on the following behavior clusters: Look (look forward, hold on to the chair, and slide forward); Put (put your feet down, stand up, and put your hands down); and Move (move your feet, move your hands, repeat, and sit down). The results of the multiple-baseline/withdrawal design indicated that instructional feedback, repeated practice, and appropriate social reinforcement were sufficient to teach the cruising skill. Future research was suggested in instructional feedback, repeated practice, and appropriate social reinforcement.